You are cordially invited to submit abstracts and attend the "2nd Annual Colloquium on Environmental Welfare, Animal Well-being, Rights of Nature, and Human Rights", In partnership with DFFE, SANParks, SANBI, and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
Background and theme
Recently, ‘animal welfare’ has enjoyed much attention in South African jurisprudence. Our courts increasingly support the notion of animals as beings to be protected and cared for in line with a strong animal welfare approach. This approach is supported by our judiciary by recognising that ‘animals are sentient beings that are capable of suffering and of experiencing pain’.1 Cameron JA, however, clearly states that the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 169 of 1993 are designed, not to confer rights on animals, but to promote their welfare. Most recently, in April 2024, a report from a Ministerial Task Team (MTT) recommended voluntary exit options and pathways for the captive lion industry. The establishment of the MTT followed the establishment of a High-Level Panel on Matters Relating to the Management, Breeding, Hunting, Trade and Handling of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros, which recommended, among others, various actions to phase out of the captive lion industry. The report was tabled by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and approved by Cabinet for release and implementation. Read more
Papers on the following themes are invited:
- Animal welfare in South Africa;
- Animal welfare vs human rights;
- Conservation and environmental welfare: its place in the biodiversity economy;
- Rewilding as a tool to restore ecosystem and species welfare;
- Private and public ownership of wildlife within the welfare and well-being concepts;
- Culling and hunting (in general) as tools to restore (or destroy) ecosystem and species welfare;
- How should science, law, and policy achieve synergy for an optimal regulatory framework; and
- Building an ethically and scientically sound legal framework: Is ‘rights of nature’ a requirement or not?
Abstracts
Registrations for attendance will close on 2 September 2024.
Registration fee
R1500
Click here to register
Programme
For more information, contact Niel lubbe.